Philanthropy is a now common among the world’s super-rich, with big money being donated for many global causes. The rest of us that do not belong to the wealthy elite can also do a part in helping the world – by putting our idle CPU resources to good use!

These distributed computing projects simulate supercomputers by harnessing the combined processing power of PCs worldwide, in order to crunch huge amounts of data.  They don’t have any impact on performance either as they only run when the computer is idle.

1. How to help detect intelligent life outside earth

SETI@home stands for the Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence – a project that attempts to detect intelligent life forms in outer space by means of analyzing radio signals. Intelligent life-forms are presumed to use radio waves as a means of communication, and detection of these weak signals coming from outer space may signify the existence of such entities.

2. How to help discover a cure for AIDS

FightAids@home is a distributed computing project that aims to increase understanding of AIDS and HIV. CPU resources are used to calculate the millions of protein structures for a possible AIDS cure, as well as advancing knowledge in the structural biology of AIDS.

3. How to help predict climate changes

Climateprediction.net utilizes the power of individual home computers to help fine tune and reduce uncertainties in current climate prediction models. You may help make climate prediction more accurate by being part of this project!

4. How to help physicists understand the origins of the universe

LHC@home is a newly-formed project to help process the raw data collected at the Large Hadron Collider. The calculations done will help scientists and physicists figure out what goes on in a particle accelerator and ultimately leading to true understanding of our universe’s creation.

5. How to help advance the field of artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence System seeks to advance development in artificial intelligence by increasing the understanding of our brain. Using combined computing powers, the system simulates the billions of neurons in a human brain, and uses these data to come up with sophisticated artificial intelligence models.

6. How to help create better rice

Nutritious Rice for The World aims to help farmers breed better rice with pest-resistant and high yield properties. By simulating the protein strains of rice, it is hoped that better rice breeds can be produced to help undeveloped or food-deprived nations.

7. How to help develop a cleaner energy source

The Clean Energy Project simulates millions of molecule structures in order to come up with new materials that may play important roles in developing alternative energy sources. From organic photovoltaic to conducting polymers, every distributed computer plays a role in finding the molecular structures of these materials.

8. How to help render 3D animations

3D renderings take up considerable computing resources – and BURP, short for Big and Ugly Rendering Project, aims to create a network of computers to aid in rendering of sophisticated 3D animations. Who knows, you might be helping in the creation of the next Shrek.

9. How to help discover the next Armageddon

Orbit@home monitors the impact hazard that may be caused by near-earth objects. Be the first to know of any asteroids or objects that might hit Earth!

Which one of the above projects do you feel most strongly about?  Tell us in the comments!

The author of this post, Chan Huey Hoong is a regular writer at Friedbeef’s Tech, check out his artistic endeavors on his blog.